Collapsible and shippable base assembly such as incorporated into a popcorn cart including a lower wheeled support frame and an upper popcorn kernal popper assembly and cabinet and including a kit incorporating such a collapsible and shippable base assembly

ABSTRACT

A base assembly integrated into an appliance including a lower frame and an upper operating component. A plurality of inter-assembleable and planar shaped members include each of a bottom and upwardly supported and interconnected front, back and sides, these collectively defining an enclosure having an upper surface adapted to support the operating component and a lower surface adapted to secure upon the lower frame. Mounting hardware including at least a plurality of threaded fasteners secures the bottom to locations along the front and back. Pluralities of vertically spaced tabs and opposing vertically spaced slots are configured along each of opposite edges of the sides and along each of first and second pairs of opposite edge extending brackets secured to each of the front and back and which overlap the side edges. The planar shaped members and mounting hardware are adapted to being shipped in a first flat-packed arrangement and subsequently assembled on site in a second use arrangement.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a collapsible and shippablebase supporting structures, such as for integration into a popcorn cartincluding a lower wheel supported frame and an upper combination kernelpopper and cabinet module. More particularly, the present inventionincludes such an assembly as well as a corresponding kit for providingsuch a collapsed/shippable base assembly which is subsequentlyassembleable with the lower wheeled frame and upper kernelpopper/cabinet module.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Popcorn making assemblies are known in the art and which include boththe fixed/stationary variety as well as the wheeled or traversable type,such as which is further useful for providing such product such as atcarnivals, fairs or other public/private events in which it is desirableto provide mobility to the assembly. The traditional popcorn box body isan integral type, which is not convenient to disassemble and/ortransport. U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,401, to Goodlaxson, teaches a cornpopping machine and method of assembling the same.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a modular or assembleable support basefor integration into such as a popcorn cart including a lower wheelsupported frame and an upper combination popcorn kernel popper andcabinet module. The lower frame secures to an underside of theassembleable base or cabinet and includes such as a rear pair of wheelsand a forward pair of vertical pedestals, such defining frictional stoplocations upon a ground surface and, upon tilting the frame about anaxis defined by the wheels, permitting traversing of the popcorn cart.The upper combination module (for the illustrated embodiment) furtherdepicts a conventional popcorn kernel cooker assembly suspended over aclear glass/plastic enclosed cabinet for collecting a volume of poppedcorn for dispensing through any of an exteriorly accessible door orgate.

The collapsible/detachable and intermediately positioned support basedefines a three dimensional rectangular and open top body having each ofa bottom connecting plate and inter-assembleable front, back and sideplates. A plurality of corner mounts are formed on an underside of thebottom connecting plate for receiving the four vertical extendingelongated members associated with the lower wheeled frame. Supportledges are defined upon inner facing horizontal surfaces of the frontand back plates for seating the bottom connecting plate and, incombination with pluralities of opposing and inter-engaging tab and slotportions define along the edges of each of the front, back and sideplates provide for quick assembly of the support base assembly.

Additional screw fasteners and receiving nuts can also be provided ataligning locations established between an angled outer flange of thebottom connecting plate and overlapping side bracket locationsassociated with at least the front and back plates in order to provideadditional structural integrity between inter-assembled components. Ahinged door is further configured upon the front plate as shown forgaining access to the interiorly held contents.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made to the attached drawings, when read incombination with the following detailed description, wherein likereference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, andin which:

FIG. 1 is an environmental illustration of the assembleable support baseof the present invention integrated into a wheel supported popcorn cartaccording to one non-limiting embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective of FIG. 1 and illustrating the supportbase with exterior grip and shelf attachments removable from the lowerwheel supported frame and upper supported popcorn kernel popper andcabinet;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective of the support base of the presentinvention in an assembled condition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective taken along directional arrow4 of FIG. 3 of a bottom underside corner engagement between the bottomconnecting plate and front and left side plates of FIG. 3, the bottomconnecting plate further exhibiting a pedestal mount for receiving avertically extending member of the wheeled frame or pedestal;

FIG. 5 is a further illustration of a vertical side edge engagementlocation established between inner overlapping locations associated withthe base assembleable components;

FIG. 6 is a further exploded view of the support base of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a collapsed packaged view of the support base in a shippingcondition and prior to assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached illustrations, the present inventiondiscloses a modular or assembleable support base, see generally at 10 ineach of FIGS. 1-3, for integration into such as a popcorn cart. As willbe described in further detail, an advantage of the collapsible supportbase assembly is that it permits shipping in a flat packed arrangement,see at 10′ in FIG. 7, which reduces the size of the packaging (seephantom outline of box 2) which is necessary to transport the assembly.

FIG. 1 is an environmental illustration of the assembleable support base10 of the present invention integrated into a wheel supported popcorncart according to one non-limiting embodiment, with FIG. 2 furtherproviding an exploded perspective of FIG. 1 and illustrating theassembled support base 10 with exterior grip 9 and shelf 11 attachments,such depicted in phantom, removable from the lower wheel supported frameand upper supported popcorn kernel popper and cabinet;

Prior to describing the collapsible support base in additional detail, afurther description will now be had of the lower wheeled frame and theupper kernel popper/cabinet components, these being illustrated in eachof FIGS. 1-2. The present inventions contemplate the use of thecollapsible base 10 with any wheeled or fixed/stationary appliance notlimited to the popcorn cart shown and with which it is desirable toprovide a compact, easily shippable and assembleable base enclosure as acomponent of such an appliance, kit and/or assembly.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-2, the popcorn cart includes a lower wheelsupported frame, including vertical supports 12, 14, 16 and 18 (theseengaging the underside of the base assembly 10 through such as the useof associated top end projecting threaded studs or the like as shown at13, 15, 17 and 19 in FIG. 2 as will be further described), horizontalinterconnecting supports 20, 22, 24 and 26, and wheels 28 and 30respectively mounted to collinear shaft extensions 32 and 34 from andalong a rear 26 of the horizontal interconnecting supports. The lowerframe secures to an underside of the assembleable base or cabinet, suchthat the rear pair of wheels 28 and 30 and forward pair of verticalpedestals, such exhibiting bottommost pads 36 and 38 defining frictionalstop locations upon a ground surface and, upon tilting the frame aboutan axis 40 defined by the center point of rotation of the wheels,permitting traversing of the popcorn cart.

The upper combination module (for purposes of the present inventionbeing generally referred to as the operating assembly or component)further depicts a conventional popcorn kernel cooker assembly, see at42, which is mounted to an underside of a roof or top 44 forming aportion of a three dimensional rectangular shaped and clearglass/plastic enclosed cabinet, such as exhibiting see-through sideswhich collect a volume of popped corn for dispensing rough any of anexteriorly accessible door or gate, further at 46. For purposes of thepresent description, additional explanation as to the operation andfeatures of the popcorn kernel cooker 42 are unnecessary, except as tostate that it can be provided as an existing assembly in which itsbottom extending perimeter, at 48, is understood to generally match thatof the upper opposing perimeter supporting surface of thefast-assembleable base module 10 (see again FIG. 2), and to which it canbe mounted using any collection of clamps, clips, fasteners, or thelike.

As is now depicted by the collection of views of FIG. 3-6, pertainingdirectly to the support base, the collapsible/detachable andintermediately positioned support base defines a three dimensionalrectangular and open top body having each of a bottom connecting plate50 and inter-assembleable front 52, back 54 and side 56 and 58 plates.The term “plate” is further understood to be interchangeable withflattened “planar member” or “side”, and each of the plates 50-58 caninclude any of a wood, metal, rigid plastic or composite material.

The front plate 52 further includes a door 60 which mounts to an innerperimeter rim 62 (FIG. 6) via a hinges 64 and 66. Additionally hardwareincluding a handle 68 and mounting screws 70, 72, et seq. are providedduring assembly (see also as shipped flat in the packaged view of FIG.7) and, upon completed assembly, to gain access to the interior of thebase assembly 10 which can function as a storage module for the popcorncart.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial perspective taken along directional arrow4 of FIG. 3 and better showing a bottom underside corner engagementbetween the bottom connecting plate 50 and each of the front 52 and leftside 58 plates of FIG. 3. The bottom connecting plate 50 furtherexhibits a plurality of four corner located pedestal mounts, one ofwhich is shown at 70 in the form of mounting hardware in the partialview of FIG. 4), such including an interiorly threaded receiving hole 72for receiving one of the upper end projecting and exteriorly threadedstuds 13, 15, 17 and 19 associated with the vertically extending members12, 14, 16 and 18 of the wheeled frame or pedestal. As further shown,each of the four corner proximate and bottom plate underside surfacepedestal mounts further includes a multiple reverse bended configurationwith a spaced/set off middle location incorporating the depth extendingreceiving hole 72 and configured to receive the the stud end 13, 15, 17or 19 of the associated pedestal mount, outer most flattened portions,at 74 and 76, providing mounting surfaces to affixing to the undersideof the bottom plate 50.

Viewing again FIGS. 4-6 in combination, an arrangement of tabs/slotsintegrated into opposing edge assembling surfaces of the bottom 50 andupper enclosure defining 52-56 plates or members, and in combinationwith additional attachment hardware, will now be discussed for quicklyassembling the support base assembly 10 from the collapsed/shippingcondition of FIG. 7 to the assembled/use position of FIG. 3. Thisincludes elongated support ledges defined upon inner facing horizontalsurfaces of the front 52 and back 54 plates (one of which being shown at78 in horizontal and lower edge proximate extending fashion forbackplate 54) for seating and supporting an opposing extending side edgeof the bottom connecting plate 50.

Also shown are pluralities of opposing and inter-engaging tab and slotportions define along the edges of each of the front 52, back 54 andside 56 and 58 plates provide for enabling quick assembly of the supportbase assembly 10. This includes angled and curved mounting tabs whichare integrally formed with inside extending edges of each side plate 56and 58, These shown by individual pluralities of vertically spaced andinwardly projecting tabs 80 and 82 exhibited along the outermost sideextending edges of the selected side plate 56, a further like pluralityof vertically spaced tabs 84 being illustrated for opposing side plate58 (the other extending edge pattern being obscured in that view).

As best shown in the partial illustration of FIG. 5, selected engagementtabs 80 associated with side plate 56 is are again shown and which,during a final assembly stage, secure through aligning aperturesassociated with edge brackets which extend perpendicularly inwardlyrelative to each of the front 52 and back 54 plates. As best shown inFIG. 6, the front plate 52 includes a first pair of vertical edgeextending brackets 86 and 88, with the rear or back plate 52 including asecond opposing pair of vertical brackets 90 and 92, between which aresupported and edge-overlapped the vertical extending side edges of theside plates 56 and 58 with their vertical tab arrays.

As again best shown in FIG. 5, the selected edge angled bracket 86associated with front plate 52 (and which can equally depict an oppositecorner representation between the hidden vertical side edge of oppositeside plate 58 and aligning bracket 92 associated with the rear plate 54)can include any of a flattened or stepped cross sectional profile. Thisis further depicted by inner stepped and outer most lateral extendingportion 94 associated with vertical bracket 86, and within which areconfigured vertically extending slots(see rectangular shaped at 96 inFIG. 5), these aligning with the curved underside profiles of selectedtabs 80. Without limitation, the arrangement of tabs and slots depictedin FIGS. 4 and 6 can be reversed from that shown and such that the slotscan be configured along opposite vertically extending edges of the sides56 and 58 and the tabs being repositioned in exteriorly projectingfashion from the inner stepped mounting surfaces (again at 94 in FIG. 5)of the front and back edge mounted brackets.

Prior to finished assembly of the base support assembly 10, utilizingthe vertically extending tabs and slots, a collection of additionalscrew fasteners and receiving nuts are provided for pre-assembling thefront 52 and rear 54 plates to the bottom connecting plate 50. Thisincludes aligning locations established between angled outer edge of thebottom connecting plate and the overlapping side brackets 86/88 and90/92 associated with at least the front 52 and back 54 plates, andwhich additionally provides structural integrity between inter-assembledcomponents. Any collection or screw or bolt fastener, such as shown bypairs of threaded bolts 98 in FIG. 6, are provided in aligning fashionwith lower side locations of the bracket 86/88 and 90/92 of the front 52and rear 54 plates.

The bottom plate 50 further includes an outer angled flange or skirt,such being hidden in the upper side perspective of FIG. 6 but depictedby interconnecting skirt edges 100 and 102 in FIG. 4. Attachment nuts104 are further shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 and, upon aligning overlappingapertures in each of lower locations of the brackets and skirt edges ofthe bottom plate 50 (see aperture 106 for selected bracket 88 of frontplate 52 and further apertures at 108 and 110 for brackets 90/92 of rearplate 54, which aligns with apertures such as shown at 112 and 114 inselected exposed skirt edge of the bottom plate 50 as depicted in FIG.6), the threaded stems of the fasteners 98 are inserted through theoverlapping pairs of apertures, so that the outer heads abut against theexterior surface or the inner stepped ends (again at 94) of the sidebrackets and the nuts 104 affix over the portions of the exteriorlythreaded stems which project beyond the inside surface of the adjoiningskirts (again 100, 102 in FIG. 4) of the bottom connecting plate 50.

Accordingly, and following pre-assembly as dictated by the uponpre-aligning the front and rear outer edges of the bottom plate 50 toseat upon the ledges (one of which again shown at 78) of the front 52and rear 54 plates, the bottom plate 50 is mounted to the front 52 andrear 54 plates utilizing the fasteners 98 and end attachment nuts 104.Following this, the side plates 56 and 58 are affixed to the overlappingbracket edges 86/88 and 90/92 of the front and rear plates (again viathe progressive inward inserting and vertical seating motion of the tabsthrough the slots as depicted in FIG. 5) order to establish aself-supporting assembly arrangement of the base support assembly 10 inthe manner depicted by FIG. 3. As also shown in each of FIGS. 3 and 6,the uppermost horizontal edges of the sides 56 and 58 may furtherinclude upper edge extending portions 106 and 108, these providing somemeasure of overlapping and upper rim edge support for receiving thepopcorn cooker operating component, as further again defined by bottomsupporting rim edge 48 in FIGS. 1-2.

Beyond that embodiments illustrated, it is further envisioned andunderstood that the assembleable support base is further adapted tobeing integrated into any other appliance construction, both fixed andtraversable, and with which it is desirable to provide for any easilycollapsible and shippable enclosure defining body forming a part of suchan appliance or assembly. Having described my invention, other andadditional preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilledin the art to which it pertains, and without deviating from the scope ofthe appended claims:

We claim:
 1. A base assembly integrated into an appliance including alower frame and an upper operating component, said assembly comprising:a plurality of inter-assembleable and planar shaped members includingeach of a bottom and upwardly supported and interconnected front, backand sides, these collectively defining an enclosure having an uppersurface adapted to support the operating component and a lower surfaceadapted to secure upon the lower frame; mounting hardware including atleast a plurality of threaded fasteners for securing said bottom tolower edge horizontal locations along said front and back; andpluralities of vertically spaced tabs and opposing vertically spacedslots configured along each of opposite edges of said sides and alongeach of first and second pairs of opposite edge extending bracketssecured to each of said front and back and which overlap said sideedges; said planar shaped members and mounting hardware adapted to beingshipped in a first flat-packed arrangement and subsequently assembled onsite in a second use arrangement.
 2. The assembly as described in claim1, further comprising a door configured into at least one of said front,back or sides for accessing said enclosure.
 3. The assembly as describedin claim 1, the lower frame further including a plurality of fourvertically extending supports, said bottom further comprising aplurality of four corner located pedestal mounts adapted to receiveupper engaging ends of the vertically extending supports.
 4. Theassembly as described in claim 3, each of the vertically extending lowerframe supports further including an upper end projecting and exteriorlythreaded stud, said corner pedestal mounts each further comprising aninteriorly threaded receiving hole adapted to receiving one of the upperend projecting and exteriorly threaded studs.
 5. The assembly asdescribed in claim 1, further comprising elongated support ledgesdefined upon inner facing horizontal surfaces of said front and back forseating and supporting opposing extending side edges of said bottomprior to installation of said mounting hardware.
 6. The assembly asdescribed in claim 1, said bottom further comprising an outer angledskirt, said mounting hardware further including nuts and, upon aligningoverlapping apertures in each of lower locations of said pairs ofopposite edge projecting brackets with said skirt edges of said bottom,threaded stems of said fasteners being inserted through the overlappingpairs of apertures and said nuts affixing to said stems which projectbeyond inside surfaces of said skirts.
 7. The assembly as described inclaim 1, said appliance further comprising a popcorn cart, wheelssupporting said lower frame, said upper operating component furtherincluding a conventional popcorn kernel cooker assembly mounted to anunderside of a roof and forming a portion of a three dimensionalrectangular shaped and clear glass/plastic enclosed cabinet.
 8. Anassembleable popcorn cart, comprising: a lower wheel supported frameincluding a plurality of four upwardly extending supports; an upperoperating component further including a conventional popcorn kernelcooker assembly mounted to an underside of a roof and forming a portionof a three dimensional rectangular shaped and clear glass/plasticenclosed cabinet; a base assembly including a plurality ofinter-assembleable and planar shaped members including each of a bottomand upwardly supported and interconnected front, back and sides, thesecollectively defining an enclosure having an upper surface adapted tosupport an underside extending rim associated with said operatingcomponent and a lower surface for, securing said upwardly extendingsupports of said lower frame; mounting hardware including at least aplurality of threaded fasteners for securing said bottom to lower edgehorizontal locations along said front and back; and pluralities ofvertically spaced tabs and opposing vertically spaced slots configuredalong each of opposite edges of said sides and along each of first andsecond pairs of opposite edge extending brackets secured to each of saidfront and back and which overlap said side edges; at least said planarshaped members and mounting hardware of said base assembly adapted tobeing shipped in a first flat-packed arrangement and subsequentlyassembled on site in a second use arrangement.
 9. The popcorn cart asdescribed in claim 8, further comprising a door configured into at leastone of said front, back or sides of said base assembly for accessingsaid enclosure.
 10. The popcorn cart as described in claim 8, saidbottom further comprising plurality of four corner located pedestalmounts adapted to receive upper engaging ends of the verticallyextending supports.
 11. The popcorn cart as described in claim 10, eachof the vertically extending lower frame supports further comprising anupper end projecting and exteriorly threaded stud, said corner pedestalmounts each further including an interiorly threaded receiving holeadapted to receiving one of said upper end projecting and exteriorlythreaded studs.
 12. The popcorn cart as described in claim 8, furthercomprising elongated support ledges defined upon inner facing horizontalsurfaces of said front and back for seating and supporting opposingextending side edges of said bottom prior to installation of saidmounting hardware.
 13. The popcorn kart as described in claim 8, saidbottom further comprising an outer angled skirt, said mounting hardwarefurther including nuts and, upon aligning overlapping apertures in eachof lower locations of said pairs of opposite edge projecting bracketswith said skirt edges of said bottom, threaded stems of said fastenersbeing inserted through the overlapping pairs of apertures and said nutsaffixing to said stems which project beyond inside surfaces of saidskirts.
 14. A kit including an assembleable base for integration into apopcorn cart have a lower wheel supported frame and an upper operatingcomponent further including a conventional popcorn kernel cookerassembly, said kit further comprising: a plurality of inter-assembleableand planar shaped members including each of a bottom and upwardlysupported and interconnected front, back and sides, these collectivelydefining a base assembly and enclosure having an upper surface adaptedto support an underside extending rim associated with said operatingcomponent and a lower surface for securing said upwardly extendingsupports of said lower frame; mounting hardware including at least aplurality of threaded fasteners for securing said bottom to lower edgehorizontal locations along said front and back; and pluralities ofvertically spaced tabs and opposing vertically spaced slots configuredalong each of opposite edges of said sides and along each of first andsecond pairs of opposite edge extending brackets secured to each of saidfront and back and which overlap said side edges; at least said planarshaped members and mounting hardware of said base assembly adapted tobeing shipped in a first flat-packed arrangement and subsequentlyassembled on site in a second use arrangement.
 15. The kit as describedin claim 14, further comprising a door configured into at east one ofsaid front, back or sides for accessing said enclosure.
 16. The kit asdescribed in claim 14, the lower frame further including a plurality offour vertically extending supports, said bottom further comprising aplurality of four corner located pedestal mounts adapted to receiveupper engaging ends of the vertically extending supports.
 17. The kit asdescribed in claim 16, each of the vertically extending lower framesupports further including an upper end projecting and exteriorlythreaded stud, said corner pedestal mounts each further comprising aninteriorly threaded receiving hole adapted to receiving one of the upperend projecting and exteriorly threaded studs.
 18. The kit as describedin claim 14, further comprising elongated support ledges defined uponinner facing horizontal surfaces of said front and back for seating andsupporting opposing extending side edges of said bottom prior toinstallation of said mounting hardware.
 19. The kit as described inclaim 14, said bottom further comprising an outer angled skirt, saidmounting hardware further including nuts and, upon aligning overlappingapertures in each of lower locations of said pairs of opposite edgeprojecting brackets with said skirt edges of said bottom, threaded stemsof said fasteners being inserted through the overlapping pairs ofapertures and said nuts affixing to said stems which project beyondinside surfaces of said skirts.
 20. The kit as described in claim 14,further comprising said popcorn kernel cooker assembly mounted to anunderside of a roof and forming a portion of a three dimensionalrectangular shaped and clear glass/plastic enclosed cabinet.